Experts from Sweden and New Zealand warned a pro-family conference of the negative social consequences of universal daycare, anti-spanking laws and legalized prostitution.

Sweden's 30-year experience with a universal daycare system has decreased the psychological health of youth relative to other Nordic countries, said Jonas Himmelstrand, author of Busting the Myths of Swedish Family Policy.

The general assembly of Caritas Internationalis in late May is shaping up as a defining moment for the confederation of 165 national Catholic charities, at a time when the Vatican is insisting on greater control over Caritas operations.

Religious freedom is good for society, including for economic growth, and the social sciences are producing data to prove it, said Mary Ann Glendon, president of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.

Pope Benedict gestures as he takes a gondola across the Grand Canal.

Church leaders demanded that the Pakistan government boost security for their faith communities in the wake of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden's death, which they fear will shatter the peace they have enjoyed for 10 years.

Looking back at 30 years of pro-life work for the Catholic Church, Richard Doerflinger said he sometimes felt he had come into "contact with something very close to ultimate evil.

Swiss Guard recruits are seen during the swearing-in ceremony for 34 new recruits

Because the Roman Catholic Church was a driving force behind the development of a common English translation of basic prayers used by many Christian churches for 40 years, more recent Vatican rules for translating Mass prayers "came as a bombshell," said an Anglican liturgist.

The Catholic Church needs active members who blog, but Catholic bloggers also need the Church, especially to remind them of the virtue of charity needed in their writing, said participants at a Vatican meeting.

The gathering May 2 was sponsored by the pontifical councils for culture and for social communications.

Even in retirement, one is called to live out a vocation. As children move from home and a career comes to an end, one's vocation goes through a transition. But it doesn't end. God calls each of us, he calls us by name and he calls us for all of our lives.